Babys in big vivariums?

[KyloVeiled]

Hi there,

I've looked in various places and heard various things about baby/young chameleons in large (4 foot) vivariums.

I've heard that they should be put in a smaller viv until around 4/5 months and then a large one.
But I've also heard that starting with a big vivarium is fine if you make sure they have lots of foliage/places to hide.

I'd love some more opinions before I get my boy (veiled chameleon) Thanks!

-G

 

[jpowell86]

The issue with a large enclosure isn't so much their ability to hide. The reason why we use smaller enclosures is because it is much easier to control variables within the enclosure (i.e. - temperature, humidity, etc.).

Also, it is much easier in the areas of feeding. Trying to feed smaller feeders, like fruit flies, in a 4' enclosure would be a nightmare. It would be far too much area for the little ones to navigate for each meal.

So, "Control" is the key element in choosing the proper size enclosure when raising babies.

If you are buying a veiled from someone who is reputable, then you will most likely receive an animal that is already in the 3-4 month range. In this case, you will be upgrading the size of his enclosure after 2-3 months. A 24x48x24 enclosure will be exactly what you need when he is in the 6-8 month range.

 

[Carlton]

Hi there,

I've looked in various places and heard various things about baby/young chameleons in large (4 foot) vivariums.

I've heard that they should be put in a smaller viv until around 4/5 months and then a large one.
But I've also heard that starting with a big vivarium is fine if you make sure they have lots of foliage/places to hide.

I'd love some more opinions before I get my boy (veiled chameleon) Thanks!

-G

Well, you could always partition off a smaller area of a big cage temporarily so your baby can find its food more easily.